Doughnut machine



W. G. HOLMES I'AL DOUGHNUT MACHINE Filed April 21, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 los w1 '105 r1-f6 27' 54 May 25,1943.

May 25, 1943.

W. G. HOLMES ETAL DOUGHNUT MACHINE Filed April 2l, 1941 8 u? ne 4 sheets-sheet 2 ff ma .mammar- @La-#mn l l May 25,-,1943- w. G'. HOL-MES ErAL *2,320,037

' DOUGHNUT MACHINE Filed April- 21, 1941 4 Sheets-sheet 3 lnia ma usa lTf1. j 58a mme usa Walter-6. Holmes William R. Cggne and Alexander- S.T. Laaad May 25, 1943- w; G. HoLMEs ETAL I Y 2,320,037

DOUGHNUT MACHINE Filed April 2l, 1941 4 Sheecs--Sl'xeel' 4 i0 107 lo, 05 I I wucm/lm Walter G.. Holmes iol V William R. C9311@ and Alexander SIT'. Laaard Patented May 25, 1943 DOUGHNUT MACHINE Walter G. Holmes, William It. Coyne, and Alexander S. 'I'. Lagaard,.Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Dough King, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application April 21, 1941, Serial No. 389,528

l (Cl. 53-7) 14 Claims.

Our invention relates to doughnut machines and particularly to doughnut machines in whichf the doughnuts are progressed along a channel or way in a kettle throughout a circuitous course by means of the flow of the cooking liquid.

An object of the invention resides in providing a doughnut machine of such character inv Which the rate of travel of doughnuts along the channel may be controlled.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a control device for use in such machine which will operate without interruption.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a construction in which the'movable parts thereof are either immersed in the cooking liquidv or readily accessible for cleaning.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a control device for controlling the rate of travel of the doughnuts along the channel and in providing means for rendering said control device inoperative to permit of the accumulation of a suiiicient number of doughnuts upon rst starting the doughtnut machine to give suflicient irying time to the doughnuts.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the control device with a control member movable to and fro to control the travel' of doughnuts along the channel anda link movable to and fro and connected to a part movable' with the control member for moving the same.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a driving member movable to and fro and in providing connecting means between the driving member and link, together with means for rendering the connecting means inoperable. Y

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the driving member and link with juxtaposed parts, one of the parts having a notch-and the other having a pin engaging the notch.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a shifting member for moving one of ,said parts for disengaging the pin from the notch.l

A still further object of the invention residesin providing a device which'may be easily re-y moved from the doughnut machine.

A feature of the invention resides in providing a device in which the mechanism directly "con-v nected to the control member is contained with-` in a pocket formed in the kettle-of the vdoughnut machine adjacent the channel in which the control device is situated;

in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan sectional view of a doughnut machine illustrating an embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken online-2 2 of Fig- 1 showing the parts in altered position and drawn to a greater scale.

. Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view taken on line V3--3 of Fig. l and drawn to the same scale as Fig. .2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view similar to.r Fig.V Staken on line 4 4 of'Fig. 1 With'por- 1 tions'thereof broken away to show theconstruction of the device.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing the partsin valtered position.

Fig. 6 is across sectional view taken on line 6.-6of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 isa plan sectional viewtaken on line 1--1 ofFig. 6;

Fig. 8v is `a 'fragmentary plan view of a portion of `the invention.

In the drawings we'have shown' aY doughnut machine A Which consists of a case Il! constructedwith end walls Il and I2,` and sidewalls I3 and I4 connected therewith. The case includes uprightsl situated at the outer corners ofthe same and which extend throughout the height ofthe case and to which the Various Walls are attached. Secured to the rvarious uprights I5v are channel frame members Il which -stiffen Ythe case and which .serve as supports for the kettle of the invention.

Within the case I0 is disposed a cooking kettle I8 which is constructed with Va bottom I9 and with vertical walls 2| extending upwardly therefrom. The vertical walls are connected at their upper endswith upper iwalls 22 and the various Walls are so arranged as to form a channel 23 which extends throughout the major portion ofl the kettle and which provides away along which the doughnuts may travel. The kettle I8 has one corner of the-same removed, as designated at 24, leaving aA main portion 25 of the Width of the case I0, and of allength equalto about-twothirds of the length of Vthe same. This construction provides an extension 26 to thekettle which extends up to the end wall 42. Kettle I8 is constructed with a ledge 21,- Fig.' 6v extending about the margin `of the same-which terminatesA in` a lip 28- projecting upwardly from the extreme .edge thereof. issues .inwardly from the 'walls thereofand overlocality of the portion 25 thereof.

tion of the hood 45, not forming any. particular lies the lip 28 thereby protecting the same and at the same time being spaced therefrom to retard the transmission of heat from the kettle to the case. The kettle I8 is supported on the channel frame member I1 by means of screws 30 which are threaded into bosses 3l formed on the said kettle,

The channel 23 is arranged to provide a straight run 32 which commences in close proximity to wall I2 and which follows along wall I3. The channel 23 at the end of the run 32 makes a curve 33 which leads (into a transverse run 34 extending along the wall II. This latter run connects with a sharp curved portion 35 which in turn is connected to another straight run 36,.

The run 36 follows closely along'the wall I4.

The run 35 is connected to a curved run 1 extending up to the end of the major portion 25 of the kettle at the corner 24 thereof. The run 31 is connected to an S-shaped run 38 generally extending longitudinally of the kettle and disposed adjacent the run 36 and extendingin the opposite direction. The S-shapedrun is'connected with another transverse run 39 which follows along the run 34. Run 39 is connected through a sharp curved portion 4I with another longitudinal run 42 disposed adjacentY the run 32 and extending in the opposite direction therefrom. The run 42 discharges into a reservoir 43 which is merely an enlargement of said run. From this reservoir a short run 44 is provided which is connected by means of a curved run 45 with the beginning of the run 32. A portion of the reservoir 43, the run 44 andthe run 45,'and the beginning of the run 32 are all disposed in the extension 26 of kettle I8.

The major portion 25 of the kettle I8 is enclosed by means of a hood 4S. This hood utilizes the uprights I at the end wall II and two other uprights 41 which are attachd to the case at Vthe The construcfeature of the invention, has not been shown in detail, though it can readily be comprehended that any suitable construction may be used for the purpose.

In the reservoir 43 is provided lar-duct 48 which'communicates at its lower end with the said reservoir. lIn'this duct is provided an impeller or elevator 49 which ismounted on the armature shaft. of a motor 5I. communicates at its upper end with the run 44 of channel 23, thus discharging the cooking liquid from the reservoir 43 and into the run 44 of the channel from which it flows throughout the course of the channel and is returned into the reservoir 43.

' Situated at the beginning of the run 32 of channel 23 is a doughnut former 52. This doughnut former comprises a receptacle 53 for raw dough and a suitable cutter 54 connected therewith. Such construction being Well known in the art will not be described -in detail in this application. The cutter 54 is periodically operated by means of a shaft 55 which is driven by a transmission, not shown in the drawings, but contained within a case 55 situated in the corner 24 of kettle I8.

In the run 36 of channel 23 of kettle I8 is arranged a twisted tubular turner 51. This turner inverts the doughnuts after the same have been cooked a predetermined length of time so that the said dougnut may be cooked equally on both sides thereof. Such devices` being Well a vertical tubu- The duct- 48' known in the art the turner 51 will not be described in detail in this application.

For removing the cooked doughnuts from the machine, an ejector 58 is employed which is disposed in the run 42 of channel 43. This ejector comprises a shaft 59 which is continuously driven from the transmission within the housing 56. This vshaft has mounted on it oppositely eX- tending cranks 6I and 62. Sets of toothed blades E3 and 54 are mounted on the ends of said cranks and are adapted to be alternately raised and lowered as the shaft rotates. The lower ends of these blades slide upon an incline rest 65 which is mounted on the bottom of kettle I8 in the portion of the run immediately following the corner 4I of the channel. It will readily be comprehended that, as the doughnuts reach the said blades, the doughnuts are elevated and progressed ,upwardly and outwardly of the cooking vkettle I 8. The ejector 58 is disposed within a trough 55 which returns any cooking liquid removed from the doughnuts back into the kettle I8 and which also discharges the doughnuts from the machine.

For controlling the elevation of the cooking liquid in the channel 23 a dam 1I is used which extends across the run 42 of channel 23 at the beginning of the reservoir 43. The cooking liquid in ilowing through the channel 23 passes over this dam which serves as a weh` and is maintained at a predetermined elevation thereby.

The invention proper comprises two control devices 12 and 13 which control the rate of travel of the doughnuts to the turner 51 and ejector 58. The control device 12 will now be described in detail. This control device includes a cradle 14, best shown in Figs. 3 and '7, which cradle is constructed from sheet metal and is formed to provide a forward portion 15, an intermediate portion 16 and a rearward portion 11. The two portions 11 and 15 are angularly disposed rela-l tive to one another and gradually merge into the intermediate portion 16. The two portions 15 and 11 form engaging members which engage the doughnut and which function in the same manner as the device illustrated in Patent No. 2,207,546 issued to Alexander S. T. Lagaard July 9, 1940. The entire cradle 1a is constructed with spaced parallel bars 18 which extend in the direction of travel of the cooking liquid in the channel 23 vand which are connected together by means of cross bars 19, 8| and 82. .These various bars are formed by stamping the sheet material from which the cradle is constructed.

The cradle 14v is supported on a casting 83 which is constructed with v underlies the cross bar 8l and is riveted theretoso as to support the cradle 14. The boss 84 isvformed with a bore--Which serves as a bearmg by means of which the cradle is journaled for oscillation. Y

The mechanism for rotatably supporting the cradle 14 and for operating the same is contained within a pocket 81 formed between two of-the walls 2| of kettle I8 which are disposed adjacent the two runs 34 and 39 of the said kettle and which have been specifically designated as 2| a and 2lb. is pocket is closed on the side of the run 39 by means of the wall 2Ia and opens into the run 34. The said pocketY a boss 84 and a lug 85 projecting outwardly, therefrom. The lug.85'

adapted to rest upon'v 89 is a stud 94 which is best shown in Fig. '1;

This stud has issuing from it a bracket 95, Ywhich bracket has attached to it a stub shaft 99 extending at right angles to the plane of the portion 9| of closure 88. The shaft 9S of bracket 95 and the stud 94 are all located within the pocket 81. In the vertical portion 9| of the Vclosure 88 is a vertically extending slot 91, the upper portion 98 of which is circular in form andv concentric with the axis of the stub shaft 95. This portion of the slot 91 is of suiiicient dimensions to permit of insertiony of the boss v84 of cradle 14 through the closure 9| and inwardly into the pocket 81.

The boss 84 has issuing from it an arm 99 which is disposed within the pocket 81 and is closely positioned to the linner surface of the portion 9| of closure 08. This arm, when the cradle is in operative position, engages the inner surface of the portion 9| of closure 88 and prevents withdrawal of the cradle from the stub shaft 96.

For operating the control devices 12 and 13 a rock shaft II is employed which is disposed a short distance above the kettle I8 and which is connected to a short shaft by means of a coupling |94. The shaft |00 extends into the transmission case 59 and is operated by any suitable means within the same so that the shaft |00 rocks to and fro in accordance with the operation of the shaft 55. The movement of the shaft |00 is timed so that it completes a cycle of oscillation every. time a doughnut is deposited by the cutter 54. The shaft I|)|` is journaled at its outerend in a bearing |03 whichA may be opened up to release the Asaid shaft.v

This bearing is shown in Fig. 2 and comprises a lower portion |04 with a cap |05 hinged to the lower portion by means of a pintle |06. The

-lower portion |04 is secured to the ledge 21 of the kettle I8 by means of screws |01 which pass through ears |08 issuing therefrom. A screw |09 holds the two parts of the bearing together.

The shaft |0| has secured to it `an arm I|I which overlies the kettle I8 and is disposed in proximity to the pocket 81. The arm III has attached to the -outer end thereof a pin or lug I|2 which is adapted to cooperate with a link ||3 now to be described in detail.

The link I|3 is preferably constructed of sheet metal and is formed with a shank ||4 which extends through an opening ||5 in the horizontal portion 89 `of the closure 89. said link is further constructed with a head I'|6 which is formed with an arcuate surface I`I1 at thelocality of the pin |I2. The said head is constructed with a hook II8 and withv `a shoulder ||9. At the lower end of the surface ||1 is formed a notch |2I, the lower surface of which lies in continuation of the shoulder 'II9. This notch is of such dimensions as to receive the pin II2 and when said 'pin is; Fin' engage*- ment With the notch the 'afin I II -S'eivs'to fraise* The',

and lower the link H3. The shank |14l of link ||3 has a boss |22 formed thereon at its lower end which is adapted to be slid over the protruding end of a stub shaft |23 which issues outwardly from the arm 99. This boss is closely positioned to the inner surface of the wall 2id of kettle I8 and is thus prevented from becoming disengaged from the shaft |23 when the device is assembled with the closure 88 in place.

When the pin ||2 on arm is in engagement with the notch I2I, the link |I3 is reciprocated and the arm 99 and the cradle 15., which is operated thereby oscillated. This causes the cradle to function as disclosed in the patent above referred to, to control the passage of doughnuts through the way 23 of kettle I8. When the link II3 is swung toward the right about the shaft |23 as a pivot, when viewed as in Fig. 2, the pin |12 becomes disengaged from the notch |2I` and moves 'freely along the surface II1 between hook II9 and shoulder IIS). The said pin, when engaging shoulder |I9, forces the link ||3 to its lowermost position and upon reversal in movement leaves the shoulder and travels free from the link I I3.

For the purpose of moving the said link in a manner to disengage pin I i2 from notch |2I, the head IIS of link I|3 is constructed with a vertically extendingslot |25. For cooperation with this slot we employ a U-shaped member |21 which has two spaced arms |28 and a connecting portion |29. The arms |28 are connected to a shift rod I3I which extends outwardly through the case I9. The shift rod I3| passes through an opening |32 in the wall I3 of case I0 immediately below the guard 29 and is constructed with notches |33 and |34 which are adapted to engage the said wall and hold the said rod in position. When the rod I3| is raised the same may travel freely in the opening |32 and when lowered at the proper position the notches |33 and |34 effect a lock for the said rod. Said rod may be manipulated by means of a knob |35 secured to the outer end thereof.

The shift rod |3I is supported at its innerend by means of a post |36 which has a threaded stem |31 extending upwardly therefrom. This stem passes between the arms |28 of the U-shaped member |21 and guides the same for movement.

l A nut `I 38 screwed upon this stem holds the memthe parts thereof will not be repeated and the same reference numerals with the suflix a. appended will be used to designate the corresponding parts. It will be noted that the portion 39 of channel 23 in which the control device 13 is located is deeper than that in which the control device 12 'is situated. Consequently the link I|3a is somewhat longer than the link H3. Also the arm Ia for operating said link being connected to the same shaft |01 bec-emes slightly longer than the arm II I, due to the fact that the two control devices are not situated at exactly the same relative positions with respect to the central line of the kettle. The fiow in the run 34 of channel 23 being from right to left and in the run 29 being from left to right, the link ||3a is disposed on the opposite side of -the shaft 96a.

For the exception of these Vdifferences the two same and becomes necessary that a number of doughnutsA be accumulated in the runs 32 and 33 and 34 ahead of the turner El. For this purpose the control rod IBI is manipulated to stop the control device 12. This is brought about by moving the rod outwardly and bringing the notch I31fl into engagement with the wall I3. The control device is then moved downwardly until the `engaging.

portion 'I5 thereof is in position to engage the doughnuts. The arm I II and the pin I I2 thereafter travel freely. When the proper number of doughnuts have accumulated in back of the control device `I2, shift rod I3I is manipulated to bring the pin I I 2 into engagement with notch I2 I. The device then functions in the normal manner allowing one doughnut at a time to pass into the turner. The control device I3 is also stopped to permit of accumulation of doughnuts in the runs 3l and 38 leading up to the ejector 58. As soon as sufficient number of doughnuts have accumulated in back of the control device I3, the same is also placed in action and the doughnut machine functions in the normal manner.

The advantages of our invention are manifest. The control device is extremely simple and highly practical in construction. The device has a minimum number of moving parts which can be readily disassembled for cleaning and inspection. With our invention the use of auxiliary gates for controlling the accumulation of doughnuts when the machine is first set into operation is entirely eliminated. With our invention the deposit of carbon and other matter from the fumes of the cooking liquid upon the parts of the control deviceV will not interfere with the operation of the same.

Changes in the specific form of our invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, a doughnut control member movable in opposite directions to control' the travel of the doughnuts along the way, a link movable in opposite directions and connected to a part movable with said control member, a driving member movable in opposite directions, connecting means between said link and said driving member, and means for rendering said connecting means inoperable.

2. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the iiow of the cooking liquid, a doughnut control member movable in opposite directions to control the travel of the doughnuts along the way, a link movable in opposite directions, a driving member movable in opposite directions, connecting means between said link and control mem-k ber, connecting means between saidlink and driv- In order member at a locality eccentric from the axis of tion of said way, a control member, a pivotal supportfor said control member having a horizontal axis, means movable with said control member and extending into said pocket, a link ex-V tending into said pocket and connected to said last named means, said link being movable in an up and down direction to procure oscillation of said control member about the pivot means, aV

swinging arm disposed above the cooking kettle, connecting means between said link and arm, and means for disconnecting said link and connecting means.

4. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the ow of the cooking liquid, a doughnut control member, pivot means for pivoting said control member for oscillation to control the travel of the doughnuts along the way, a link pivotally connected to a part movable with said control said control member and serving to oscillate said control member, a driving member movable to and fro in the direction of extent of said link, said driving member and link having two cooperating parts engaging one another for imparting movement to said link, and means for moving said link about its pivot to disengage said cooperating parts.

5. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow 0f the cooking liquid, a doughnut control member, pivot means for pivoting said control member for oscillation to control the travel of Ythe doughnuts along the way, an arm movable with said Vcontrol member, a. link pivoted to said arm for movement about an axis parallel with the aixs of said control member, a second arm oscillable about an axis parallel with the axis of said control member, said link and second named arm having cooperating parts for procuring a driving `connection between said second named arm and link, and means for moving 4one of said fcooperating parts out of `and into engagement with the other.

6. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, a doughnut control member, pivot means for pivoting said control member for oscillation to control the travel of the doughnuts along the way, a link pivotally connected to a part movable with said control member at a locality eccentric from the axis of said control member and serving to oscillate said control member, a driving member movable to and fro in the direction of extent of said link, said driving member and link having two cooperating parts engaging one another for impart' ing movement to said link, and means for moving one of said Darts out of engagement with the other.

7. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the now of the cooking liquid, a doughnut control member, pivot means for pivoting said control member for oscillation to control the travel of the doughnuts along the way, a link pivotally connected to a part movable with said control member at a locality eccentric from the axis of said control member and serving to oscillate said con-,-

trol member, a driving member movable to and fro in the direction of extent of said link, said driving member and link having juxtaposed Eparts, one of said parts having a notch therein and the other having a lug adapted to engage said notch and effect a driving connection between said driving member and link, and means for moving one of said parts to disconnect said lug from said notch.

8. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, a doughnut control member, pivot means for pivoting said control member for oscillation to control the travel of the doughnuts along the way, a link pivotally connected to a part movable with said control member at a locality eccentric from the axis of said control member and serving to oscillate said control member, a driving member movable to and fro in the direction of extent of said link, said driving member and link having juxtaposed parts, one of said parts having a notch therein and the other having a lug adapted to engage said notch and effect a driving connection between said driving member and link, and means for moving said link about its pivot to disconnect said lug from said notch.

9. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the now of the cooking liquid, a doughnut control member movable to and iro to control the travel of the doughnuts along the way, a link movable to and fro and connected to a part movable with said control member, a driving member movable to and fro, said driving member and link having juxtaposed parts, a notch formed in one of said parts, a lug carried by the other of said parts l and adapted to engage said notch and effect a driving connection between said driving member and link, and means for moving one of said parts laterally With respect to the direction of /movement of said link to disconnect said lug from said notch.

10. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the now of the cooking liquid, a doughnut control member movable in opposite directions to control the travel of the doughnuts along the way, a link movable in opposite directions and connected to a part movable with said control member, a driving member movable in opposite directions, said driving member1 and link having juxtaposed parts, a notch formed in one of said i parts, a lug carried by the other of said parts and adapted to engage said notch and effect a driving connection between said driving member driving connection between said driving member and link, said notch having opposed surfaces engaging said lug, one of said surfaces being of greater extent than the other, means for moving one of said parts to bring said lug beyond the shorter of the surfaces whereby movement is afforded to the link in one direction only.

12. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the now of the cooking liquid, a doughnut control member movable in an up and down direc tion to control the travel of the doughnuts along the way, a link movable in an up and down direction and connected to a part movable with said control member', a driving member movable in an up and down direction, said driving member and link having juxtaposed parts, a notch formed in one of said parts, a lug carried by the other part and engaging said notch for effecting a drive between said driving member and link, and a shift rod movable in a horizontal direction and engaging one of said parts for disconnecting said lug from said notch.

13. A doughnut machine comprising akettle having a way along which the doughnuts are progressed through the flow of the cooking liquid, said kettle having a pocket adjacent a por-- tion of said way, said kettle being provided with a wall -forming said pocket and disposed adjacent the way, a doughnut control member in said way adjacent said wall, pivot means for said control member disposed within said pocket and carried by said wall, said control member having an arm movable therewith and disposed in said pocket, said arm moving in an up and down direction, said arm engaging the inner surface of said wall and restraining axial movement of said control member through engagement therewith, said wall having a slot therein conforming in conguration to the shane of the arm and out of register with the arm when the control device is in operative position, said control device being attached to the pivot means by axial movement thereof when the arm is in register with said slot, and means for swinging said arm and con trol member about the pivot means.

14.. A doughnut machine comprising a kettle n having a way along which the doughnuts are and link, said link having an elongated portion extending in the direction of movement of said link, and a shifting member having an opening through which said portion extends for moving said link laterally of the direction of movement of said driving member.

11. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the ow of the cooking liquid, a doughnut control member movable in opposite directions to control the travel of the doughnuts along the way, a link movable in opposite directions and connected to a part movable with said control member, a driving member movable in opposite directions, said driving member and link having juxtaposed parts, a notch formed in one of said parts, a lug carried by the other of said parts and adapted to engage said notch and effect .a

progressed through the flow of the cooking liquid, said kettle having a pocket adjacent a portion of said way, said kettle being provided with a wall forming said pocket and disposed adjacent the way, a doughnut control member in said way adjacent said wall, a shaft carried by said wall and extending transversely of the way, said shaft being supported at its inner end and free at its other end adjacent the way, a bearing carried by said control member and applicable to said shaft by axial movement from the free end thereof, an arm issuing outwardly from said bearing normally extending in the direction of extent of the way, a slot formed in said wall and extending in a direction angular with respect to the normal position of said arm, said arm and bearing being insertable through said slot to bring the arm into said pocket, said arm when in normal position engaging the inner surface of said wall and restraining axial movement of said control member, and means for oscillating said arm to operate said control member.

WALTER C'r. HOLMES. WILLIAM R. COYNE'. ALEXANDER S.. T. LAG-AARD. 

